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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Here's your chance to see all the amazing WOWs Royal Caribbean added
to the Grandeur of the Seas as we complete our WOW Button Tour.

During a recent 30-day revitalization dry-dock, part of Royal Caribbean's Royal Advantage SM program, the Grandeur became the next ship to complete the program, which will enhance the entire fleet. See Royal Advantage Expanded for more information about the project and schedule of ship completions.

What's New on Grandeur of the Seas?

We were fortunate to be invited to the Revitalization Debut of the
Grandeur of the Seas in November. Join us for the last two stops of the New Grandeur
of the Seas WOW Button
Round-Up.

Concierge Club, Viking Crown Lounge

Loyalty has its rewards!! Hopefully you are aware that cruise lines, just like airlines, have loyalty programs that provide perks based on the number of times or nights you have sailed with them. In some cases, the type of cabin or cruise may get you extra points towards your next level. Royal Caribbean's program is called Crown and Anchor Society. You can learn more about the program in our previous article: Updated Crown & Anchor Society Program.

This exclusive lounge space, on Deck 11 of the Grandeur, is for Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members. Guests in suites (except for junior suites) are also given access to this lounge area.

Continental Breakfast is served in the Concierge Club daily from 7:00 AM until 10:00 AM. Complimentary beverages are served in the Concierge Club from 5:00 PM until 8:30 PM as well. Israel Sanchez, the Concierge on the Grandeur, is there to assist guests with any requests throughout the voyage.

Congratulations !!

You have just collected your

Buttons for Deck 11

Collect all 7 !!

This concludes the WOW Button tour of the newly revitalized Grandeur of the Seas. In case you missed the other locations, here is the list of Button Stops and other related posts:

Friday, January 25, 2013

Here's your chance to see where teens have fun on Grandeur of the Seas
as we continue our WOW Button Tour. Normally the teens area is off
limits to adults, but during our private tour of the revitalized
Grandeur, Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean staff hosted an open house
and we're taking you behind the scenes to explore the facilities.

Adventure
Ocean® Youth Program

Royal Caribbean'steen program isn't some structured set of classes or rules – these
"almost adults" deserve a vacation all their own. So the program gives them the
freedom they deserve to join pre-planned events throughout the day or
simply hang out in teen-only spaces – with Adventure Ocean staff that
keep the good times coming.

Ages 12 to 14

Get active with rock climbing competitions, dodgeball and Dance
Dance Revolution, then take it down a notch at BBQs and movie nights.
Plus, the chance to let your star shine with open mic nights, talent
shows and Scratch DJ Academy.

Ages 15 to 17

Join new friends at theme nights, pool parties and teen dinners.
Feeling the competitive spirit? Bring it on the karaoke stage, on the
Wii or at the basketball court and see who takes home the glory.

Teen-only Hang Outs

Whether you want to chill out or all-out dance, drop by teen-only
spaces where you can hang out late. Start at the teen lounge, a
laid-back hideaway, and then amp up the energy at the teen-only
nightclub.

During the Grandeur revitalization event, there weren't many teens onboard, but even so, there was a special program designed for those that were. The sample activities shown here are representative of the kinds of offerings for teens during Royal Caribbean cruises. See more images of Adventure Ocean on our Facebook Page.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Here's your chance to see where kids have fun on Grandeur of the Seas as we continue our WOW Button Tour. Normally the kids area is off limits to adults, but during our private tour of the revitalized Grandeur, Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean staff hosted an open house and we're taking you behind the scenes to explore the facilities.

Adventure
Ocean® Youth Program

Kids will have a blast at the complimentary, award-winning Adventure
Ocean® Youth Program. onboard Royal Caribbean's entire fleet. Every member of the youth team holds a four-year
degree in education, recreation or a related field and has extensive
experience working with children. Kids and teens are divided into age
groups so that they can enjoy specialized programs made to expand their
imaginations in interactive, multi-room spaces designed just for them.
It’s an awesomely fun, totally edu-taining adventure.

Aquanauts (Ages 3-5)

These little at-sea adventurers will enjoy the magic of Bubbling
Potions, uncover the dinosaur-sized secrets of Jurassic Jr., and take
over the ship with the Pirate Party Parade. Parents of three-year olds
can opt for pagers so that Adventure Ocean staff can stay in touch.

Explorers (Ages 6-8)

Space Mud, Fossil Fever, Meteorology Madness! Hands-on science
gets young minds churning – along with explorations of the fine arts
with Adventure Art and Adventure Theater. Round out the night with
dancing through the decades and ice cream for all.

Voyagers (Ages 9-11)

How about a scavenger hunt with new friends from across the world?
That's just the beginning for Voyagers, who enjoy programs including
sports tournaments, talent shows, video game showdowns and much more.

Fisher-Price toy lending program

Borrow and exchange from an onboard treasure chest of
Fisher-Price® developmental toys, specifically created for infants and
toddlers ages 6-36 months.

Crayola Beginnings workshops

Just for Royal Tots! Throughout these 45-minute workshops, parents
and their children enjoy story time while creating works of art using
Crayola Beginnings products.

Pirates, Scientists, Artists, Ahoy!

Onboard, kids aren't just kids. They're scientists exploring the
insect world, eye-patched pirates or the next great athlete to take the
gold at the Wacky Olympics. With interactive programs and activities
designed just for their age group, Adventure Ocean gives kids the chance
to discover a whole new side of themselves.

All children
participating in Adventure Ocean activities are required to be 3 years
of age, 100% toilet trained and diaper and pull-up free.

Babies and Tots programs

Join your child in the fun of Royal Babies® or Royal Tots®
interactive playgroup sessions developed by early childhood experts at
Fisher-Price®. Each 45-minute session, held on one of our onboard
lounges, offers activities that make playtime learning time as well.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday marking the
birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The MLK day is observed on the
third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of Martin Luthor
King’s birthday, January 15. Martin Luthor King was born in 1929 and died in
1968

Martin Luther King, Jr. gave is famous “I have a dream” speech on August 28, 1963, so the year 2013 marks the 50th Anniversary of the
speech. More info on the “I have a dream speach” can be found on Wikipedia.

Fifty years later his dreams are for the most part still unfulfilled. It is interesting to note that one of the award nominated movies of the year is about Abraham Lincoln, another famous American who had a famous speech, the Emancipation Proclamation, which
freed millions of slaves in 1863. Martin Luther King started his speech making reference to that proclamation.

Dreams of Another Sort

Today let us pause to remember this great man and the dreams that he called out from that podium in Washington, D.C. Perhaps in our lifetime, or in the lifetime of our children, his dreams came come closer to reality than they are today on this 50th anniversary of his speech.

Each day I wake up and am thankful that my job involves making dreams come true. A few years back, I wrote a blog post about Vacationing, from a Cruise Specialist’s Perspective. Perhaps today is a good day to revisit that article and make your own dreams for yourself, your family, and friends. Click on the link and read the article while imagining you are there.

During a recent 30-day revitalization dry-dock, part of Royal Caribbean's Royal Advantage SM program, the Grandeur became the next ship to complete the program, which will enhance the entire fleet. See Royal Advantage Expanded for more information about the project and schedule of ship completions.

What's New on Grandeur of the Seas?

We were fortunate to be invited to the Revitalization Debut of the
Grandeur of the Seas in November. Continue exploring the New Grandeur
of the Seas as we take you along with us on the Grandeur WOW Button
Round-Up.

Deck 10 - Nursery

At the Royal Babies and TotsSM Nursery, available only
onboard Royal Caribbean, their trained staff cares for little cruisers
ages 6 to 36 months in a safe, interactive space. Babies and tots will
be delighted by Fisher Price® and Crayola® programs made just for them,
while parents can enjoy all the ship has to offer. Daytime and evening drop-off is offered; hourly fee of $8 applies.

Available: Allure of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Splendour of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Grandeur of the SeasComing soon: Fleetwide

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Silver Explorerdeparted Ushuaia, Argentina, in early January, for an 18-night cruise to
Antarctica.On January 12th, somewhere between Tierra del Fuego and the Antarctica, a wave came crashing into the ship's bridge injuring four crew members. They were treated in the medical center onboard the vessel and according to Silversea Cruises all 133 guests and 113 crew are safe.

Impacts Current & Next Cruise

According to reports, the damage was severe enough to interrupt the current voyage and cancel the upcoming Antarctic sailing scheduled for January 21st. If reports are accurate, the wave would have struck the vessel about 30 feet above sea level.

The ship was returning to the embarkation port in Argentina where it will then proceed to an undisclosed location for repairs. It wasn't clear how long those repairs would take, but the line said it

anticipated that Silver Explorer would resume its normal Antarctic
schedule with a 10-night voyage departing Ushuaia on January 31st.

Impacted passengers have been notified by the line or their travel agents. It is believed that the line is offering discounted future sailings or refunds to the affected passengers.

While it is unfortunate that the current voyage was cut short, and an upcoming voyage cancelled, dashing hopes of passengers visiting the arctic region, we are happy to report there doesn't appear to be any serious injuries as a result of the incident.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Here's your chance to see all the amazing WOWs Royal Caribbean added
to the Grandeur of the Seas as we continue our WOW Button Tour.

During a recent 30-day revitalization dry-dock, part of Royal Caribbean's Royal Advantage SM program, the Grandeur became the next ship to complete the program, which will enhance the entire fleet. See Royal Advantage Expanded for more information about the project and schedule of ship completions.

What's New on Grandeur of the Seas?

We were fortunate to be invited to the Revitalization Debut of the
Grandeur of the Seas in November. Continue exploring the New Grandeur
of the Seas as we take you along with us on the Grandeur WOW Button
Round-Up.

Outdoor Movie Screen

Most of the major cruise lines have been adding big screen movie screens to their pool deck area for some time. With the Grandeur's revitalization, it joins sister ships that have already had the popular feature added. Whether it is during the day at sea or at night going between destinations, you'll be able to enjoy special features on the big screen. There's no need to miss a big game even when you are at sea.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Off the coast of Giglio Island in Italy lies the submerged hull of Costa Concordia. It is a stark reminder of the events of that fateful night in mid January when Captain Francesco Schettino did a sail-by as he had done many times before. This time, there would be human error and other factors contributing to the disaster.

32 lives were lost and countless lives altered in a matter of a few hours. The ship, crew, and others are now the subject of investigation and court proceedings as well as a $400M salvage operation that is behind schedule. It appears that the wreckage won't be removed completely until this Summer.

Reliving the Tragedy

As the anniversary approaches, the media has been interviewing survivors getting their thoughts about the events of that January night. For some, it brings tears once again as they remember lost family and friends or perhaps the ordeal that they themselves went through.

Meanwhile, as Giglio prepared for a religious service Sunday to mark the
anniversary, including the release of 32 airborne lanterns to mourn the
dead, Costa Crociere has told survivors among the 4,200 passengers and
crew to avoid the island out of respect for those who died. The company
says that there would not be enough space on the island to accommodate
all the survivors of the wreck.

We're sure that the company meant well by making those remarks, but it hasn't sat well with the families who are trying to deal with the tragedy one year later.

We hope that the families and friends are able to find some comfort on this one year anniversary. Please remember the survivors and those that died in your thoughts and prayers today.

Norwegian Cruise Line is known for their entertainment such as The Second City Comedy and Blue Man Group. They also are known for deck parties and on the new Breakaway, they'll be taking things to a new level. Building on the electrifying theme of the ship’s headlining Broadway
show, ROCK OF AGES, the awe-inspiring fireworks will be the grand finale
of a decadent 1980s-themed deck party and will be set to a
specially-selected playlist of classic 1980s hits by artists like
Madonna, Devo and Prince. “All the incredible entertainment and
amenities on Norwegian Breakaway are going to wow our guests,” said
Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s CEO. “We wanted one additional
element that would really blow them away and this incredible fireworks
show is going to take the cruise to a new level of excitement.” Guests will party the night away under the
stars in the open-air Spice H20 venue at the aft of the ship while enjoying the fully-produced show featuring a visual masterpiece that is set to a playlist of classic 80s hits including “Come on Feel the Noise,” by Quiet Riot; “Whip It,” by Devo; “Cherish,” by Madonna; “Final Countdown,” by Europe; and “Purple Rain,” by Prince. In a breathtaking finale, a mesmerizing color-filled fireworks show will
light up the night sky, right above the ship. New Yorkers are very familiar with fireworks shows set to music, with the annual Fourth of July spectacular hosted by Macy's. We suspect this show will be as exciting as that annual event. The 4,000 passenger Norwegian Breakaway will begin weekly summer seven-day cruises to Bermuda on Sunday, May 12, 2013 after its arrival in her year-round homeport of New York City on May 7th. From October 2013 through April
2014, New York’s ship will offer voyages from the heart of Manhattan to
the Bahamas & Florida and the Southern Caribbean. Not the First Ship to Offer FireworksWhile Norwegian Cruise Line often is the first to introduce new ideas at sea, they unfortunately can't claim the fireworks show. Disney Cruise Lines offers a similar experience onboard their ships during their "Pirates in the Caribbean" show. Pirates chase each other around the deck as music blares and culminates as the nighttime sky is lit by colorful exploding bursts of light. We'll have to wait and see if Norwegian Breakaway's show comes in first or second place in guest rankings. Be sure to plan your cruise during this inaugural season so that you'll be able to see what promises to be an exciting show.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Wave (n) A long body of water curling into an arched form and breaking on the shore

Despite the image, that's not the definition we have in mind. The cruise industry's "Wave Season," which takes place between January and March, is when cruise lines offer some of their very best extra-value incentives for booking cruise vacations.

Timing is Everything - Plan Early

January to March is the time when there are the most consumers looking
at cruise vacations. You might have special needs / wants, such as a
mid-ship location, larger cabins holding 3 or more passengers, a
handicapped cabin, an itinerary on a particular small ship that has
limited occupancy. You probably aren't the only ones with similar
requirements. To quote a popular saying, "the early bird gets the
worm".

When looking at special needs such as triple or quad occupancy,
handicapped cabins, mid-ship location, etc., there are a finite number
of cabins that meet those classifications. These are among the first
cabins selected by early planners. If you wait until late in Wave
Season, or worse, later in the year, you may not be able to find your
choice, or at the very least, will pay a premium for that selection.

Taking Advantage of Wave Season

What's the best deal during Wave Season? There are so many
offers during Wave Season, it's hard to determine what's the best deal
to take advantage of. We'd suggest you focus on offers that provide
cabin upgrades, free or reduced airfare, and other amenities which
typically aren't available year-round. We have offers crossing our
desk every day throughout Wave Season. We'll do our best to publicize
them on our website, here in this blog, and limit a few to our Facebook
Fans only. So be sure to sign up for our eNewsletter, subscribe to
this blog, and become a fan on our Facebook Page. Call or email us
with your bucket list and we can keep watch for you during the next
couple of months.

In closing, take advantage of this special season - you deserve a vacation and you deserve to get the best value.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Salvage of the Costa Concordia continues one year after the deadly accident where 30 people lost their lives during what should have been a routine sailing past Giglio, Italy.

As the ship lays on it's side, 60 Minutes visited the ship for a close up look at the salvage activities. They used special drone cameras, barges, small vessels, and several other cameras to capture the onboard experience almost a year later.

Watch this video to see some highlights of their visit.
A 60 Minutes crew delved inside the wrecked Costa Concordia to bring the first look
inside the cruise liner since it sank in January last year, killing 32 people.

The clock onboard Costa Concordia is frozen in time reflecting the moment when the ship lost power. Earlier that day, passengers were anxiously awaiting the start of their holiday at sea as they boarded the ship. Little did they know that for some of their fellow passengers, these were some of their final moments here on earth.

There are many tangible and intangible impacts of this accident. Obviously, there's the cost of the rescue and salvage operations, the medical, funeral, and insurance costs to families and cruise lines. The rescue and salvage costs are proving to be much larger than even predicted several months ago. The ecosystem off this Italian coastal community has suffered losses that can't easily be measured.

Costa Cruises and parent company, Carnival Corporation were at the forefront of the industry losses, but the impact was far reaching and continues to have an impact as measures are taken across the industry to put additional safeguards in place.

For the families directly impacted by the loss of loved ones or injuries, there is emotional costs in addition to the tangible expenses. It is hard to imagine the grief that they feel. Even this article will bring back memories for those that were traumatized by the event. Our heart reaches out to all that were impacted.

Moving Forward

The cruise industry has an excellent safety record, even counting this accident and that of the Titanic one hundred years earlier. As mentioned, CLIA, and other international over-seeing bodies, have conducted investigations and made recommendations for safety improvements as a result of the accident. We can perhaps take some solace that out of the darkness emerged some good as a result.

The industry held its breath wondering what the reaction would be by the cruising public. It turns out that those that have sailed before, continue to sail, and many new passengers have experienced a cruise for the first time since that chilly day in January last year. There is a large percentage of the population (close to 80%) that still hasn't cruised, so the cruise lines continue to expand their inventories to accommodate the expected growth.

There will undoubtedly be a resurgence in press coverage as we get closer to the actual anniversary. We will continue our coverage and attempt to find representative information to share with you.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

A
warm greeting to all my faithful readers and to those of you joining
for the first time. I wish you many happy, healthy and prosperous days
in this brand new year. May the year be filled with many sunny days,
warm ocean breezes, visits to cruise ports, and relaxing sea days aboard
a cruise ship.

New Ships in 2013

March, 2013

MSC Preziosa

April, 2013

Norwegian Breakaway

June, 2013

Royal Princess

In the upcoming months, several cruise lines will be introducing new ships. MSC Preziosa will be the fourth and final Fantasia-class ship from Europe-based MSC Cruises. Norwegian Breakaway will launch in April 2013 as the first of two 4,000-passenger sister ships. Royal Princess will be about 20 percent larger than Princess' largest ships now afloat. All of these ships will introduce new dining and entertainment options for cruise passengers.

Selecting the Right Ship

These new ships add capacity to these cruise lines and give you
additional options. Besides new ships, existing ships are getting
face-lifts with new features being added, primarily based on passenger
feedback and acceptance of the features on recent ship builds on the
same or other cruise lines.The Grandeur of the Seas revitalization is just one example of the changes being made to enhance passenger experiences.

Just like picking a hotel room for a land-based trip, you can also apply
your preferences to the cruise ship, which will serve as your floating
hotel. Some people prefer small ships, while others only sail on the
newest and largest vessels. With the increasing number of ship
modifications and additions, we are confident that your want list can be
satisfied. We can help you narrow the field to those ships that meet
your needs. On the Allure and Oasis of the Seas, there are over 37 different cabin categories to chose from - we will help simplify your selection.

Where Do YOU Want to Go

What is on your bucket list of destinations or cruise ships?

Is 2013 the year you plan to complete a trip from that list? Whether
it's a far away exotic destination like Asia, Australia, and the South
Pacific or something close-by like Bahamas and the Caribbean, you'll
find a cruise ship sailing to your ports of call of choice.

We still feel strongly that cruising is the best vacation value, but we
realize there are times when you want more time in the destination or
some other reason compels you to select land-based travel. Resorts & Tours Overview

New Year Resolutions
It's that time of year to make New Year resolutions. Some of you will
decide to make changes in your lifestyle which will improve your health -
such as healthy eating or exercising. For those that haven't been on a
cruise before, that doesn't mean you have to forgo your trip. There
are full-service spas and fitness centers on most cruise ships and
healthy menu choices available throughout the day. Cruise lines will be
happy to accommodate any special dietary requirements - just be sure to
tell your cruise specialist at the time of booking so that notes can be
put on your reservation.

We hope that you add a resolution to take some time for yourself to
regenerate. Plan some vacation time on a cruise ship or at one of the
many resort destinations. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of
special offers in the upcoming months.